One person has been confirmed dead with many injured on Tuesday in a tussle on ownership of land between the people of Araromi Obu community in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State and their Ikale neighbour in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.
DAILY POST gathered that crisis has been brewing between the two communities following a ruling of the Ondo State High Court in Akure, the Ondo capital, which declared Ikale community as the real owners of the land.
According to sources, fight broke out when farmers of Araromi Obu community were prevented by their Ikale neighbours from going to the farm in the early hours of Tuesday.
With six people confirmed to have sustained serious injuries and one person feared dead during the attack, some houses were also said to have been razed in the melee.
The source explained that the Ikale people have been threatening to forcefully take back the land after the court injunction which, favoured them, despite the appeal filed by the Araromi Obu community.
While stating that those injured during the attack are already receiving treatment in the hospital, the source also alleged that the Ikale people also invaded Ago Alaye village where houses and vehicles belonging to Araromi Obu indigenes were destroyed.
Speaking on the development, the Chairman, Araromi Obu Development Committee Community, Mr. Bisoye Monebi, condemned the invasion by the Ikale natives, saying they carted away farm produce and chased people from their farms.
He stated that the development had almost snowballed into a full blown communal clash, which was prevented by quick intervention of security operatives.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of state’s police command, Femi Joseph, disclosed that mobile policemen had been drafted to the community to restore peace in the area.
He also that policemen from the Okitipupa Area Command have been drafted to the area to complement the mobile police team.
“I am aware that they are fighting but we have drafted our men to the area to restore normalcy. Some people have been arrested by our men in connection with the crisis.
“We have been able to restore peace back in the community while the command has begun investigation.”
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